Philippe Constantin

French musical and label director, talent scout, publisher, journalist 1944-1996 Former journalist in french music magazines such as Best, Jazz Hot, Rock & Folk and also at Jeune Afrique or Le Magazine Littéraire, he took up a position at Les Industries Musicales Et Electriques Pathé Marconi of handling label catalogs Blue Note or Impulse!, and artists such as [a45467], [a269094], Pete Brown (5), [a170355], [a35301], [a227848]. In 1973, he directed Éditions Pathé Marconi and signed major artists as Étienne Roda-Gil, Gérard Manset or [a306466]. He finally founded his own publishing company Clouseau Musique in 1978 and co-founded Virgin France S.A. with Patrick Zelnik and Thierry Haupais in 1980. From 1985 he directed another french label, Barclay, and signed many influential rock artists such as Noir Désir, [a934473] or [a17974]. He then became head of mostly african and reggae music oriented label Mango, and signed major artists as [a10377], Ray Lema, King Sunny Ade & His African Beats or Angélique Kidjo. Eventually pivotal on both 70's and 80's french rock and pop scenes, Philippe Constantin has been proved crucial for many other great artists in France and abroad: Julien Clerc, Téléphone, Starshooter, Marquis De Sade, Etienne Daho, Les Rita Mitsouko, [a282476], [a367370], Stephan Eicher, [a45932], [a19812], Mory Kanté, Ismaël Lô, [a30484], The Communards, Los Lobos, [a151608], [a4711], Run-DMC and many more... From 2002 to 2011 a yearly award – Le Prix Constantin – was given to young talents whom can be heard on compilations of Association Prix Constantin.